Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-10-01
Orr Public schools.

ing our public schools is at haId, pre-
sumo that any suggestions that may b;
offered, and which would IN the least dc
gree tend to increase their usefulness
would not be wholly out of place ut Thu
time, aiulnnJ altogether unacceptable
to those who are mainly interested II
their efficiency nor to the teachers ant
officers who are charged with the re-
sponsihility of their management. i
is a fact that is indispntable, and whlcl
must be apparent to every interested ob
server, that our schools are not fulfilling
rs they should the purpose for whlcl
they we're designed. I believe this us
sortion is applicable to our county ant
State generally, and especially soto llll'
district, (Metompkin). The public
schools of this district, owing to the eX
ceedingly limited time which they have
been run for the past year OF two, nave
been scarcely any benefit TO the children
attending them, they almost forgetting
in the long vacation whatever they hat
learned in the very short school terms
This state Of affairs reduces our public
schools to almost a farce. and renders
them but stumbling blocks in the WAY OF
the educational advancement OF 0ul
children, rather than promotion OF that
great end. They have almost supplalltctl
the many excellent private schools that
existed in our county and State before
their establishment, and which ID Some
respects offered our children. compari-
lively. superior educationa. advantages
and at a sum not much i'll excess III the
present establishment.
So far as l am competent to Judge, L
believe that the present system hts hut
one point OF superiority over the other,
and that consists in the fact, that 1t is
in one sense of the word free. SO far as
the poorer class of our children are con.
cerned, who would not he able to pay
for private tuition. this latter fact, coy-
ers amultitude Of its sins
There is something wrong somewhere
that this deplorable condition OF ORR
system exists. This generation
of children are in a sad prediclment,
educationally; they are seeking at our
hands the "Bread Of knowledge, and
I'VE give them stone" They are
their precious opportunities
which with many are exceedingly limit
frittering away the golden mo-
ments at the only Ito them) accessible
spring of knowledge, which has been at
it's best, but fitful stream and so far
rs present results are concerned, had
about us well cease entirely its flow.
This generation of children in after
years, instead of uttering words OF
praise. to our memory and rearing mon
umentS to perpetuate our wisdom, may
with some reason, reproach us for our
neglect, and point the finger OF ScOrn ut
our unmarked graves.
hold, sir, that i'll longer countenan-
cling the present inexcusably bad plight
Of our school system, by whatever con-
litions it may he produced, we of this
in whose hands the control
Of affairs rest, are not only perpetrating
A gross wrong upon our children, but are
also jeopardizing the perpetuation OF
our free institutions. which an enlight-
ened people alone can preserve,and fully
In the inevitable course OF
nature, we Of the present generation
must soon pass off the stage of activity
and life, and surrender the direction of
matters. and commit the destiny of our
State, into the hands of those very
whom we, through difference,
Ire permitting to grow up i'll compar;t-
i've ignorance. HOW great the reason
hen, that we should prepare them to as
sumo the responsibility. If knowledge
S the child of education, and i'll any
sense the source of power, it is mourn
full TO contemplate the depths of ignor-
lnce and weakness to which Virginia
,nd her people must, by our folly sink,
sllen compa ed to the enlightened COM
nunities by which she is surrounded,
md their consequent progress and pow
az. That there is q remedy for the evil
shown, is certain, and it behooves us to
seek it out at once, and apply it to its
removal. II it exists in the inefficlency
If the law, let us g., to work immediate
" and amend it. If laws extant are
lmple, let us See to it that they are en-
forced. If we are now taxed for school
purposes 10 the utmost constitutional
limit, and from want of money the
81 hoolS are ;ls we now find them, let us
ut tile first opportunity amend the con-
stitutiOn, so that such Il tax may be
levied aEd collected,;ls will fully accom-
plish the desired purpose. If we do not
now levy the maximum legal amount
for school purposes, let us at once do so,
md TO that extent remove the stigma
that now rests upon US, and blightS our
children. If the available funds are
sufficient, but through the management
are not yielding legitimate results, let
us then have Il new official deal, let us
see to it that the personnel OF the man
agement is ut once changed, and wher-
ever there's all unnecessary leak stop il.
If the SALARY of tile superintendent or
other school officers is more than ade-
quate for the service rendered, reduce
it, and apply the saving where it viii be
earned. If possible, increase the pay OF
teachers, so that we CAN demand better
teachers than some we now employ
Raise the standard of qualification ne
cessary to teach, measured not solely by
proficiency, but also by The
aptitude al applicant displays i'll i'm
parting to, and impreSsing upon the
minds Of children whatever information
may be desirable. Let the school ulli
cials more frequently visit the schools
under their care, and encourage the
teachers and pupils in their work. Let
them endtavo to enthuse, if possible,
The teachers with a love for their pro-
fession and its duties, aud impart a
sense of the great responsibility resting
in their hands. Let the scholars be
shown the value of the efforts being
made i'll their behalf, so that they will
use and appreciate the opportunity pres
enttd. Let them talk to the people gen.
erully,and especially to the parents when
and get them interested Ill
the importance OF education, and of the
schools, as factor in its requirement,
so that the success Of the public schools,
and the progress of their children will
be leading subjects of interest to them,
and withal, and might say above all,
let the teachers employed be such as are
not working for the pecunfary reward
alone incident to their labors, but let
them be such as feel a kindly interest in
the welfare uf their pupils, and in the